Los Angeles County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Lunada Bay, Los Angeles County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 6s with barely a breath of wind. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 8s with 7mph SE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with moderate SE wind around 10mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 20s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Takes 10 seconds with Google or Apple.
Lunada Bay is one of the best reef breaks in California — a powerful right-hander on the Palos Verdes Peninsula that holds waves from 4 to 30 feet. Historically guarded by the notorious Lunada Bay Boys, whose decades of intimidation and violence against visitors led to lawsuits settled in 2024. Access requires descending a cliff trail. The wave is bowly and powerful on WNW winter swells. Despite the settlement, approach with awareness.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Lunada Bay is 2-3+ft with a 15.1s swell period. Wind is W at 2mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Lunada Bay is 2-3+ft, produced by a 1.2ft W primary swell at 6s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 13s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Lunada Bay is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 13.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Lunada Bay works best with a WNW swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Lunada Bay. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Lunada Bay is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Lunada Bay is one of the best reef breaks in California — a powerful right-hander on the Palos Verdes Peninsula that holds waves from 4 to 30 feet. Historically guarded by the notorious Lunada Bay Boys, whose decades of intimidation and violence against visitors led to lawsuits settled in 2024. Access requires descending a cliff trail. The wave is bowly and powerful on WNW winter swells. Despite the settlement, approach with awareness.
The prime season at Lunada Bay is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Lunada Bay include sharp reef, cliff access, powerful waves, historical localism (settled 2024), long paddle out. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Lunada Bay forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
